11052025-ATR-01.qxd 5/10/2025 11:07 PM Page 1 c m y b Amritsar tribune CABINET MINISTERS VISIT VILLAGES IN BORDER AREA ADMN ENROLS 541 FOR CIVIL DEFENCE TO KEEP VIGIL The district administration has sought the cooperation of citizens for various services in civil defence. P2 PARTLY CLOUDY MAX 35°C | MIN 23°C YESTERDAY MAX 35°C | MIN 23°C SINGER SHREYA GHOSHAL’S CONCERT PUT ON HOLD Punjab Cabinet Ministers Laljit Singh Bhullar and Harbhajan Singh ETO visited three border villages. P2 FORECAST Singer has decided to postpone her Mumbai show amid tensions between India and Pakistan. P4 » » SUNSET SUNDAY 7.02 PM SUNRISE MONDAY 5.32 AM » SUNDAY | 11 MAY 2025 | AMRITSAR World Sikh Chamber of Commerce hails move to end hostilities Shooter who killed bizman held, illegal arms seized Our Correspondent Tribune News Service Tarn Taran, May 10 The police have arrested the shooter who shot dead a businessman, a resident of Dubli village falling under Sadar police station. The businessman Jaswant Singh Bittu, an ex-serviceman, was shot dead on the morning of May 3 when he was sitting in his shop. After committing the crime, the assailants managed to escape from the spot on a motorcycle. Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Abhimanyu Rana said that the assailant has been identified as Taranbeer Singh alias Tannun, a resident of Bhikhiwind, who was presently residing in Tung Pai, Mohkampur locality in Amritsar. Senior Superintendent of Police Rana said that besides recovering two illegal pistols, the motorcycle used to commit crime and the clothes worn at the time too have been recovered. A case under Sections 103 (1), 61 (2), 190, 191 (3) of the BNS and Sections 25 and 27 of the Arms Act has already been registered by the Patti Sadar police. The shooter, Taranbeer Singh, was already facing two criminal cases registered under various sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Arms Act. Amritsar, May 10 The World Sikh Chamber of Commerce (WSCC) has expressed relief and joy over the de-escalation of hostilities between India and Pakistan, following the announcement of a ceasefire. Leaders of the WSCC, including Global Chairman Parmeet Singh Chadha, Rajinder Singh Marwaha, Harpal Singh Ahluwalia, Hardesh Dawesar, Dr Amarjit Singh Sachdeva and Amarjit Singh Narang, welcomed the return to normalcy after days of tension that threatened to push both nations towards conflict. The World Sikh Chamber of Commerce leadership praised the ceasefire agreement and emphasised the urgent need to resume domestic and international flight operations at Sri Guru Ram Dass Jee International Airport, Amritsar. In a collective appeal to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Home Minister Amit Shah, the Chamber urged immediate directives to restore air connectivity. Many flights were suspended amid the conflict-like situation, leaving travellers stranded and uncertain. Highlighting the economic and strategic importance of Amritsar’s airport, the World Sikh Chamber of Commerce leaders reiterated that it serves as a backbone of the holy city’s economy and development. They also called for an immediate withdrawal of blackout orders that had disrupted civic life, requesting that normalcy be restored for residents. The World Sikh Chamber of Commerce noted that since the onset of cross-border firing, civilians had been living in a state of anxiety and despair. Today’s prudent decision to halt the shelling has rekindled hope and brought smiles back to people’s faces, they stated. It is worth noting that the ceasefire decision is believed to have been influenced by the far-sighted diplomatic efforts of US President Donald Trump. The move is being seen as a ray of hope for citizens whose livelihoods and routines had been severely affected in recent days. In a final appeal, the World Sikh Chamber of Commerce emphasised the importance of reopening all educational institutions — including schools, colleges and universities — to ensure the uninterrupted academic engagement of students and bring life fully back on track. City welcomes announcement of ceasefire between India, Pakistan Residents hope end of war-like situation will pave way for sustained peace Charanjit Singh Teja Tribune News Service Amritsar, May 10 A large section of society expressed happiness over the announcement of ceasefire between the two neighbouring countries, India and Pakistan. Social and political activists lauded US President Donald Trump for playing a mature role in bringing peace to South Asia. Reacting to the development, Yogesh Kamra, general secretary, Amritsar Vikas Manch, said, “Wars are easy to ignite but incredibly difficult to extinguish. The recent five days of military escalation between India and Pakistan is a stark reminder of the immense toll such conflicts take, not just on nations, but on ordinary lives, economies and regional stability. While national security remains paramount, it is equally vital to recognise that terrorism in any form is unacceptable, and global powers must act in unison to root out any such threat. At the same time, these tense days should not pass without reflection. They must be treated as a crucial lesson in civil defence, public preparedness and community engagement. From emergency response protocols to public awareness Soon after the announcement of the ceasefire, buzz returns to Heritage Street and other parts of Amritsar on Saturday. PHOTO: SUNIL KUMAR and shelter systems, this period has highlighted the need for stronger resilience at every level of society. Preparedness isn’t just a military strategy, it’s a societal imperative.” Principal Kulwant Singh Ankhi, an academician, said, “Brakes had been applied to the wheels of development, causing problems. It is a matter of immense joy that leaders of both the developing countries have shown maturity in imposing a ceasefire. The common man, who was being thrust back to a lockdown-like situation, is satisfied with the intelligent decision of the governments of both India and Pakistan.” Engineer Pawan Kumar Sharma said, “India always steps forward for maintenance of international peace and security. It may set forth principles for a peaceful set- tlement. My wishful thinking was to end it as soon as possible. From now on, both India and Pakistan have agreed to ceasefire with immediate effect, which helped prevent major outbreak of hostilities, reduce tension and create conditions for sustainable peace after settlements. Hopefully both the countries may decide on enforcement measures, economic sanctions (such as trade embar- Cong MP Aujla, party workers hold protest BSF, Punjab Police seize explosives, against Pakistan govt for targeting civilians arms and ammunition at border Tribune News Service Pawan K Jaiswar Amritsar, May 10 Amritsar’s Member Parliament Gurjeet Singh Aujla on Saturday held a protest against the Pakistan government for targeting civilian areas and religious shrines. He was accompanied by Nihang Sikhs and Sikh organisations. He warned Pakistan against spreading false propaganda in their attempt to dividing the Sikh community. They burned an effigy of Pakistan army chief Asim Munir outside Hall Gate area here. “From Jammu and Kashmir to Rajasthan to Gujarat, the Pakistani army was targeting civilian areas and religious shrines, which is condemnable even as the Indian forces have only destroyed terrorist camps operating from their soil,” Aujla pointed out. In order to divide the Sikh community, the Pakistan was also spreading false propa- PHOTO: VISHAL KUMAR Tribune News Service MP Gurjeet Singh Aujla along with supporters during a protestat Hall Gate in Amritsar on Saturday. ganda that the Indian army was targeting Amritsar and also that Pakistan was not attacking Sikhs,” Aujla said. He said Punjab and Punjabis stood by India in every testing times. They have now launched a fight against Pakistan-supported terrorism and ISI-supported narco-terror modules to push drugs in order to destroy the youth of Punjab. He said Punjab, especially Sikhs, would never allow their nefarious designs to succeed. “History witnessed that the people of Punjab and Sikhs repulsed ever attack from the western side and it would never allowed Pakistani forces to enter India this time also,” he said. He said the people of the border villages are upbeat and they are standing by the Border Security Force and the Army during these testing times. Amritsar, May 10 Despite heightened tensions between the armed forces of India and Pakistan following the Indian Air Force’s destruction of terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, an arms syndicate in Pakistan continued its illegal activities, attempting to smuggle in arms and ammunition during this critical period. In a joint operation with the Punjab Police, the Border Security Force (BSF) today claimed to have foiled a major terror plot by seizing a large quantity of explosives, arms and ammunition at the Amritsar border. According to BSF officials, the operation, based on intelligence, was launched near Sheikh Bhatti village, located close to the Indo-Pak border in Amritsar. During the operation, the BSF and Punjab Police recovered a packet containing 2.7 kg of explosives suspected to be RDX, two det- Tribune News Service Amritsar, May 10 While urging the people not to panic due to a war-like situation between India and Pakistan, MLAs Dr Inderbir Singh Nijjar, Dr Ajay Gupta and Jeevanjot Kaur accompanied by Deputy Commissioner Sakshi Sawhney and Police Commissioner Gurpreet Singh Bhullar on Saturday visited various markets and interacted with the shopkeepers and traders. They visited Dhab Wasti Ram, IDH market near the bus stand and markets in the walled city. Interacting with shopkeepers, they asked them not to panic and stay alert during these testing times. They said the Indian armed forces were giving a befitting reply to the Pakistani attacks and there was not need to worry. “The Indian Army and the Air Force were capable to repulse any attack emanating from the neighbouring coun- try. The Punjab Government and the district administration were with residents of the holy city,” said Dr Ajay Gupta. Deputy Commissioner Sakshi Sawhney said the district administration had already issued helpline numbers and if any resident faces any problem, they could contact at these numbers. She also warned the rumour-mongers against spreading fake news and rumours. She said stern action would be taken against them. The seized arms and ammunition in Amritsar on Saturday. onators, an IED circuit, two hand grenades with accessories, two pistols with four magazines and 30 live rounds. The consignment, wrapped in yellow plastic material and secured with a metal wire loop, is believed to have been dropped by a drone. It has been handed over to the police for further action. Maninder Singh, SSP of Amritsar Rural, confirmed that a case has been registered, and investigations are ongoing. c m y b The service is designed to make books and learning resources more easily accessible to students. PHOTO: VISHAL KUMAR cations Jyotiraditya M Scindia. The primary goal of this scheme is to streamline the Giani Gargaj visits border villages, talks to residents Tribune News Service Since May 6, when the Indian Air Force conducted precise targeted attacks that destroyed nine terror camps in Pakistan and POK in retaliation for the killing of 26 civilians in Pahalgam by Pakistan-based terrorists, both nations’ armed forces have been engaged in heightened conflict, including missile and drone attacks. The Indian Air Defense system has successfully neutralised most of the attacks from across the border. MLAs, DC, Police Commissioner India Post launches ‘Gyan Post’ to promote books interact with city shopkeepers Amritsar, May 10 The Indian postal department has launched a new service called ‘Gyan Post’ to support the dissemination of knowledge and information across the country. Aimed at simplifying the distribution of educational materials, the service is designed to make books and learning resources more easily accessible to students and institutions alike. Praveen Prasoon, Senior Superintendent of the District Post Office, said the initiative was officially announced by Union Minister of Communi- goes) or collective military action against terrorism.” Sheenu Arora, from the Voice of Amritsar, said, “On behalf of all those who cherish peace, VOA extends heartfelt congratulations to the governments of India and Pakistan for their wise and courageous decision to agree to an immediate ceasefire on May 10, 2025. May this ceasefire pave the way for sustained peace, mutual respect and prosperous relations, benefiting the people of both nations and the broader South Asian region.” Meanwhile, in a press statement, office-bearers of Amritsar Vikas Manch stated that a request should now be made to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh to normalise the situation at airports, especially the Shri Guru Ram Das Jee International Airport in Amritsar. The Airports Authority of India (AAI) must initiate formalities to resume domestic as well as international flights from Amritsar airport. The blackout decision must be withdrawn with immediate effect so that normal routine is established. Schools, colleges and universities should be opened so that educational institutions resume their work. movement of educational content nationwide. Under Gyan Post, both individuals and insti- tutions will be able to send and receive books through the postal network, with an added feature of real-time tracking to monitor the location and delivery status of the parcels. The service allows the posting of books weighing from 300 grams to 5 kg, with affordable postal charges ranging from Rs 20 to Rs 100, depending on the weight of the package. The government hopes that this initiative will particularly benefit students, academic institutions, and libraries by reducing logistical hurdles and promoting a culture of learning. — TNS Amritsar, May 10 Amid the ongoing tense situation, Akal Takht officiating Jathedar Giani Kuldeep Singh Gargaj visited several villages near the Attari border, including Pakka Dhanoa, Attari, Naushera Dhalla, and others, on Saturday. He also met with residents of these villages to understand their situation. The sacred saroops (scriptures) of Guru Granth Sahib have been safely relocated from several gurdwaras in these border villages to secure locations by the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC). Giani Gargaj reviewed the entire procedure and expressed satisfaction. Residents of villages were in high spirits during their interaction with Jathedar Gargaj and affirmed their resolve to remain steadfast even during these challenging times. On the occasion, Giani Gargaj prayed for peace in South Asia and hoped for a swift resolution to the current situation. He emphasised that the gurdwaras in the border villages remain open and local community members are in high spirits. Giani Gargaj highlighted that the SGPC has taken special initiatives to support residents in border areas — providing food, shelter, and other essential items at nearby gurdwaras. He urged everyone to continue reciting Gurbani and offer prayers to Guru Sahib for peace and well-being. He encouraged villagers to support each other during this period and assist those in need.